SEREMBAN: The Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negri Sembilan, Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir, will officially open the first meeting of the fourth session of the 15th Negri Sembilan legislative assembly on Thursday (April 23) despite an attempt to depose him, says Datuk Mohd Zafir Ibrahim.
The state secretary said the state ruler will be accompanied by his consort, Tunku Ampuan Besar Negeri Sembilan Tuanku Aishah Rohani Tengku Besar Mahmud, to the ceremony.
"The official opening will be held as scheduled.
"Both Tuanku and his consort will be present," he said when met after attending an event at Wisma Negri near here on Wednesday (April 22).
On Sunday (April 19), the four ruling chiefs of Negri Sembilan - the Undang of Sungei Ujong Datuk Mubarak Dohak, Undang of Jelebu Datuk Maarof Mat Rashad, Undang of Johol Datuk Muhammed Abdullah and Undang of Rembau Datuk Abdul Rahim Yasin - had signed a declaration to depose Tuanku Muhriz.
They claimed the decision was made due to alleged misconduct by the state ruler.
They did not elaborate.
Checks outside the state assembly building on Wednesday showed that tents and a podium, from which Tuanku Muhriz will receive a royal salute and inspect a guard of honour to be mounted by personnel from the 14th Battalion of the Royal Malay Regiment, have already been put up.
Thursday's event has become a closely watched affair following a move by the four Undang to depose Tuanku Muhriz.
They had unanimously decided to name the Tunku Panglima of Negri Sembilan, Tunku Nadzaruddin Tuanku Ja’afar, as the 12th Yang di-Pertuan Besar.
However, the state government has since refused to recognise or accept the declaration.
Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun said this was because Mubarak had been removed as Undang on April 17 and, as such, no longer held any authority.
Mubarak was apparently removed as Undang for offences related to traditions and customary laws, following a meeting of the Council of the Yang di-Pertuan Besar and the Ruling chiefs (Dewan Keadilan dan Undang, or DKU).
The DKU is the highest authority governing the four Undang of Negri Sembilan.
A media invite from the state secretary's office also revealed that the Undang and the Tunku Besar Tampin were also scheduled to be present at tomorrow’s ceremony.
However, Mubarak's private secretary, Ahmad Hanafi Ruzlan, said there was no official invitation to the ceremony for the former yet.
Ahmad Hanafi said previously that the Undang's office would receive an invitation a week before the ceremony.
"The invite is usually sent by hand by DKU personnel.
"However, we have yet to get one this time around," he said.
Ahmad Hanafi said he was made to understand that the Undang of Jelebu had also received an invite to the event.
It could not be immediately determined whether the other two ruling chiefs had received the invite or would turn up.
